Signing of a cooperation agreement between SCTH and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs
Prince Sultan bin Salman: We strive for Kingdom to be the destination of all Muslims as the home to the Two Holy Mosques, aside from its political and economic strength and humanitarian values.
ATP- Arab tourism portal- Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTH, has recently stressed the importance of striving hard for the Kingdom to be the first destination for Muslims as their Qibla, aside from being a cultural, commercial, and medical tourism destination and a business hub, as well for its religious, political, economic and cultural potentials, and in the light of the inherent values of the Saudi people, who wish good for the entire humanity, as their forefathers did through the ages.
“When a Muslim comes to this country of the Two Holy Mosques, he should as well enjoy this country through visiting the historic locations and read the Islamic history in them. He must reminisce about the Kingdom after leaving it,” SCTA President remarked.
His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman in a press statement today, (Sunday, 15 November), after he signed, along with Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Dawa and Guidance, a cooperation agreement between the two organization in the areas of development and the preservation of the sites of Islamic history, historic mosques, add mosques on roadside service station, mosques as well as historic endowment buildings.
HRH President of SCTH in his statement said, “Mosques play important role in strengthening the ties among citizens as well as enhancing their unity. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques (may Allah protect him), has instructed us to unite our efforts for the care and preservation of historic mosques and the roadside station mosques, promote their status, in an effort to strengthen the social role of the mosques. We look forward for every citizen to consider himself as responsible for mosque everywhere. Mosques are not public buildings, they are the “Houses of the God”, that makes each one of us obliged to take care of the Houses of God, before taking care of our own homes, and restore them to be comfortable and safe places. We want the mosques to be attractive places for children and the youth, in which they can feel the joy and comfort.”
HRH President of SCTH, in his statement expressed his appreciation to the efforts of the Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Dawa and Guidance, in the field of preservation of historic mosques and endowment buildings in the heritage sites.
HRH President of SCTH also commended the role of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in enhancing the performance of mosque imams who are carrying a great message on their shoulders, along with their efforts in establishing, caring of and preserving the mosques and providing them with necessary services.
“Thanks be to Allah for the wide spread of mosques, and their cleanness and services. We are all responsible for the care of mosques, especially us, as we are the home of the Two Holy Mosques and cradle of the Islam, which increases our responsibility in this area.”
Responding to a question on the level of hygiene in certain roadside station mosques, HRH the President of SCTH said, “I had already mentioned it in a previous occasion that the coordination efforts between SCTH and the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs are ongoing to monitor mosques at roadside stations, and to enforce strict penalties against roadside stations for poor services.” HRH added, “Before enforcing such regulations we usually begin our approach in coordinating with roadside stations officials to encourage them to promote their services. Mosque represents a great value for every citizen and to every Muslim, and the new regulation of roadside stations do not allow them to be run by random individuals, but to be run by sophisticated companies.”
For his part, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, praised the efforts of SCTH and its President in the restoration and preservation of historic mosques and in protecting the historic sites in the Kingdom. The Minister also commended the special relations between SCTH and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in various fields.
“Personally and on behalf of my colleagues in the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman, President of SCTH and share in his great concern towards promoting and developing the Mosques, which embody all the elements of strength of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.
The addendum agreement expands the areas of cooperation, covered in the original cooperation agreement signed between the two parties in 2011, covering cooperation in the field of preservation of old mosques in the endowment buildings in the heritage sites.
